How it Works

What does a NOAA weather buoy 3000 miles away in the middle of the North Pacific Ocean have to do with snow in Utah, Colorado & Wyoming? Good question! Since the dawn of time, humans have been trying to plan their powder days, a futile feat… until now. Is it magic? Is it science? Is it dumb luck? The answer may be yes to all of the above, but more than anything, the Powderbuoy is all about a positive vibration and energy that connects soul riders around the world.

““Yeahbuuuuooooyyyyyy””

- William Jonathan Drayton Jr.

It All Starts With the Buoy

Deep in the North Pacific, a lonely NOAA buoy floats, diligently collecting all sorts of weather data. No friends on a powder day? This lonely buoy may think its only friends are the passing birds who may stop by for a few; little does the buoy know how much happiness and joy it brings to people around the world on powder days.

Weather Prediction

Tracking buoys is nothing new; surfers have followed buoys since Gary Busey was dropping in on Big Wednesday to find out when swells are going to hit specific breaks. The Powderbuoy uses these same NOAA buoys in Hawaii and tracks the same energy that surfers ride in waves in Hawaii to forecast snow that we ride in our mountains. When the buoy pops, two weeks later you’re going to want to clear your calendar.

Plan Your Powder Flu

Don’t let those sick days go to waste, plan your flu and go get you some! That TPS report can wait for another day, you’ve got powder to ski. Yeahbuoy!

Go to the Buoy Dashboard

From the Blog

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From Instagram

Yes! Storms lining up, another one should show up on the plumes in a few days for the 14th. Early buoy predictor is looking like a White Christmas based on what I’m seeing out past the buoy. Looking for a pop on the 10th/11th for that to play out. Resorts opening this weekend,  heads up lots of instability in the backcountry, thanks for the obs @spindrift65. LFG 25/26 season! #yeahbuoy

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That was a nice birthday present overnight. Can’t believe I made it to 50,  always grateful for my fam & friends and the fun ride that this whole buoy thing has somehow turned into over the years. Thanks for following and sharing in the fun and stoke and keeping skiing real. We’ve got more snow on the way and things are shaping up a bit on the horizon. Don’t want to jinx anything, so I’ll keep it at that. #yeahbuoy

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I need a miracle everyday! Storm may come in overnight, dec 4th still on the clock and a new pop puts the 12th on the calendar. Looks like a multi day pop. Not giving up hope. . #yeahbuoy

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I am grateful for the belief in the possibility of change: I won’t stop believing, dec 10 on the radar, still hopeful for the 4th: gobble gobble.

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Roll of the dice this weekend. Time for a change. I looked back at the last time I remember it being this dry and nice for Thanksgiving, it was 2017. Let’s hope this year isn’t a redo of that season. Keeping on the positive vibrations.  Are you picking up now?

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Finally got some snow! More coming with a mini on the 21st/22nd and then 24th. The buoy was high through the 13th, hopefully that means there’s some more snow after that, right into the Thanksgiving. Looks like there may be another pop coming around the 19th, puts dec 3/4 on the radar. Maybe time to wash those cars & do a little snow dance. #yeahbuoy

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Son of a splitter! High pressure over Utah is flowing this Storm to the north & storm to the south, we’ve got to wait another couple days. Hopefully get these high pressure head fakes out of the way now so they don’t come back in feb. I bet we still see some snow up high on the 14th and things can change, but this one looks to be giving us the slide.sorry about the false alarm, things are still stacking for the second half of the month. #yeahbuoy

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Landing on the 14th, just as planned. Things are about to start changing around here. #yeahbuoy

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Round 2, landing nov 21/22 and sticking round for bit, looks like it may push out in time for Thanksgiving. Still looking good for Nov 14 storm. #yeahbuoy

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First real pop of the year, right on target, still looking for 2 more over the next week, could have a flow of storms starting around the 13/14th and on and off to the 24th, let’s let r rip! #yeahbuoy

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Just learned how to add real music to posts and reels…hey now. #yeahbuoy

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It looks like our friends to the north will be getting more incoming snow this week. I think we will have a good buoypop on the 2nd, so that puts Nov 15th or so on the calendar. #yeahbuoy

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